Forgiveness
Jesus at Matthew's Banquet
09/21/10 06:06
Within each one of us there exists a tremendous potential for good and evil. At times, we may appear almost Christ-like and at other times like the Devil himself. But, always, Jesus keeps calling us to follow Him. How we respond to His call will ultimately decide the answer to the question: what manner of man or woman is this? Read More...
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The Servant's Unpaid Debt
08/13/10 01:01
A God-like, judgmental spirit can become a prison sentence of its own, one in which habitual fault-finders are tormented by an ever-growing list of grievances and resentments. The result is chronic anger, bitterness and tension. Read More...
Forgiveness is close at hand
06/28/10 05:58
Jesus had a choice to make when He appeared in the Upper Room, in the midst of the very men who had betrayed Him. He could have extended a fist and demanded that they grovel before Him, pleading for mercy; but, instead, He extended and open palm in a sign of peace and forgiveness. In so doing, He made clear to all of us that forgiveness is always close at hand. Read More...
Jesus Forgives All
03/27/10 06:00
Jesus had a choice to make when He appeared in the Upper Room, in the midst of the very men who had betrayed Him. He could have extended a fist and demanded that they grovel before Him, pleading for mercy; but, instead, He extended and open palm in a sign of peace and forgiveness. In so doing, He made clear to all of us that forgiveness is always close at hand. Read More...
Return of the Prodigal Son
03/06/10 07:53
At different times and in different ways, we have all played the role of the prodigal son. We have acted immaturely, impulsively and selfishly. We have squandered opportunities and distanced ourselves from God. But today’s Gospel reminds us we can always return home to a loving and merciful father who stands ready to forgive and forget. Read More...
The Power of Forgiveness
05/29/09 09:15
“And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.” (John 21: 15-19)
In today's Gospel, Jesus confirmed Peter's role as leader of His church, despite the fact that Peter had denied Him three times.
In a sense, this reading illustrates the importance and the power of forgiveness. Read More...
In today's Gospel, Jesus confirmed Peter's role as leader of His church, despite the fact that Peter had denied Him three times.
In a sense, this reading illustrates the importance and the power of forgiveness. Read More...
How Many Stones Are You Carrying?
04/03/09 05:59
“The Jews took up stones again to stone him.” (John 10: 31-42)
It seems that, as far as the Pharisees were concerned, no good deed should go unpunished. They were ready to throw stones at Jesus, despite the fact that He had performed one miracle after another.
But the Pharisees aren’t the only ones willing to throw stones. Many of us carry grudges, hard-edged, flinty rocks of resentment that we are just waiting to hurl at someone in retaliation for a real or imagined grievance. Chances are, the other person has long forgotten what he or she might have done to make us angry. But, meanwhile, all those stones we’re lugging around weigh us down. Read More...
It seems that, as far as the Pharisees were concerned, no good deed should go unpunished. They were ready to throw stones at Jesus, despite the fact that He had performed one miracle after another.
But the Pharisees aren’t the only ones willing to throw stones. Many of us carry grudges, hard-edged, flinty rocks of resentment that we are just waiting to hurl at someone in retaliation for a real or imagined grievance. Chances are, the other person has long forgotten what he or she might have done to make us angry. But, meanwhile, all those stones we’re lugging around weigh us down. Read More...
Forgive Us Our Debts
03/17/09 08:02
“Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?” (Matthew 18: 21-35)
The debtor in today's parable could just as easily be one of us. Like so many people today, he is living with a crushing debt burden, when suddenly called to account. To his great relief, the debtor's day of judgment is postponed. The king shows leniency and suspends the payment. It's as if the debtor has received a mortgage workout from the local banker.
When the debtor in the parable learns of his good fortune, he reacts in a surprising way; instead of being grateful, he is angry and quick to blame his troubles on someone else. Read More...
The debtor in today's parable could just as easily be one of us. Like so many people today, he is living with a crushing debt burden, when suddenly called to account. To his great relief, the debtor's day of judgment is postponed. The king shows leniency and suspends the payment. It's as if the debtor has received a mortgage workout from the local banker.
When the debtor in the parable learns of his good fortune, he reacts in a surprising way; instead of being grateful, he is angry and quick to blame his troubles on someone else. Read More...
The Good Shepherd
11/06/08 08:43
“I say to you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner that doth penance, more than upon ninety-nine just who need not penance.” (Luke 15: 1-10)
Shepherding is the first vocation mentioned in the Bible. The Jews of the Old Testament were a pastoral people with vast flocks of sheep grazing the Palestinian hillsides. A "Who's Who" of shepherding would include Abel, Abraham, Moses, Amos, Lot, Isaac, Jacob and many other Jewish leaders.
But the status of shepherds began to change as the Jewish population grew, agriculture advanced and cities expanded. Farmers resented the shepherds because their flocks roamed freely over arable land. Cattlemen objected to the way sheep grazed right down to the roots, leaving nothing for their livestock to eat. City dwellers looked down on shepherds as rustics, who lived with their flocks in makeshift huts isolated from the rest of society.
By Jesus' time, shepherds were considered no better than tax collectors. Yet Jesus chose to identify with shepherds, the outcasts of society, and He did so for good reason. Read More...
Shepherding is the first vocation mentioned in the Bible. The Jews of the Old Testament were a pastoral people with vast flocks of sheep grazing the Palestinian hillsides. A "Who's Who" of shepherding would include Abel, Abraham, Moses, Amos, Lot, Isaac, Jacob and many other Jewish leaders.
But the status of shepherds began to change as the Jewish population grew, agriculture advanced and cities expanded. Farmers resented the shepherds because their flocks roamed freely over arable land. Cattlemen objected to the way sheep grazed right down to the roots, leaving nothing for their livestock to eat. City dwellers looked down on shepherds as rustics, who lived with their flocks in makeshift huts isolated from the rest of society.
By Jesus' time, shepherds were considered no better than tax collectors. Yet Jesus chose to identify with shepherds, the outcasts of society, and He did so for good reason. Read More...
Parable of the Debtors
09/18/08 08:58
"And he said to her: Thy sins are forgiven thee." (Luke 7: 36-50)
In telling the parable about debt forgiveness, Jesus illustrated how quick His Father is to forgive, regardless of the amount. All we have to do is acknowledge our mistake and make an amend.
Read More...
In telling the parable about debt forgiveness, Jesus illustrated how quick His Father is to forgive, regardless of the amount. All we have to do is acknowledge our mistake and make an amend.
Read More...
Forgiveness is Close at Hand
03/27/08 05:40
Jesus had a choice to make when He appeared in the Upper Room, in the midst of the very men who had betrayed Him. He could have extended a fist and demanded that they grovel before Him, pleading for mercy; but, instead, He extended and open palm in a sign of peace and forgiveness. In so doing, He made clear to all of us that forgiveness is always close at hand. Read More...